The last weeks of a long hot summer... left-overs of September.

Summer birds are gathering, filling their stomachs, getting ready for the trek south

The Zitting Cisticola, セッカ posing with its catch of the day

Usually in small groups, but now just one bird: Black-winged Stilt, セイタカシギ

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, ウズラシギ

Bar-tailed Godwit, オオソリハシシギ

This wagtail won't go far; it's one of our resident birds. Grey Wagtail, キセキレイ

The fine marking of its back make a pleasant contrast with the muddy environment.

Nearby on the side of the road:

What are they? Bees or wasps?

Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ

Look at this Sandpiper, its bill is all bent up, giving him (or her) a smiling appearance, like it's always happy :-) Watching it feeding explains why.

The happy bird is using his curved bill to scoop up insects on the surface of the mud.

Very convenient it is!

 

 And there is plenty to eat!

Different birds, different styles (with Red-necked Stint, トウネン)

Migration season: Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

This time of year visiting birds, stopping briefly, can sometimes be seen at unusual places. Like our fishing harbor. They come to find food and take a rest. I often hear their calls at night, but in the morning they're gone. However, these 2 stayed a few days.

Grey-tailed Tattler, キアシシギ

The wall is covered with 'funamushi'... but they run!

Is this really such a comfortable way to sit?

彼岸花 the equinox flower

The summer is over, but the days are still hot. I've been waiting for Higan, 彼岸 my highlight of the season. Not only because of the Higan flowers, 彼岸花

Not all flowers are red

Some other creatures in late summer  

Birds in the rain 4, Common Snipe, タシギ

Rain comes and goes for a while and then turns solid. It provides a curtain, my natural blind. I stay dry inside Esther the Estima. What else to do on a day like this? As expected the Snipes turn out en masse. They love that water pouring down on them.

Happy together  with a Wood Sandpiper, タカブシギ on the left 

and a Terek Sandpiper, ソリハシシギ  on the right.

The rain picks some more

and more

 and more

Time to go home now. A typhoon is on its way...